Religious Curriculum

Spotlight on Year One

Year One are learning about God’s Creation and our

important role as stewards. This means we have a duty to look after all that God has made. If you are looking to further this learning at home perhaps take time for a bushwalk and enjoy the beauty of the natural world, involve the kids in some gardening, clean up a patch of public land outside your house or set up a compost bin / recycling bins at home. And don’t forget looking after God’s Creation includes people – what can you do to improve someone’s life? Pope Francis writes extensively on this subject in his encyclical, Laudato Si if you are looking for some more adult information and formation.

Kindergarten & Shrove Tuesday

In learning about prayer and the liturgical seasons Kindergarten enjoyed some pancakes for Shrove Tuesday this week. They learned that Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday which starts the season of Lent. Traditionally people feasted and used up the foods that would not be eaten during the season of fasting and abstinence; over time this has become a day to make pancakes.

Religious Life of the School

Thank you to Year 4 for your beautiful Whole School Prayer Time last Friday. What a wonderful reflection on Lent and how we can prepare for the Easter Season. Our time spent imagining ourselves with Jesus in the desert really reminded us that we all are important and have great things to do with our lives. May we use this time of Lent to strengthen our prayer life to support us putting into action our hopes and dreams.

 You’re Invited! This Friday, 3March,  Year 3 will lead us in Whole School Prayer. All families are warmly invited to join us from 9.10am in the church for this Whole School Prayer Time.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion’s theme this year is ‘Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.’ Each classroom has a donation box where children are encouraged to help fundraise for Project Compassion during Lent. Your family is also able to collect your own boxes at all parish Masses in both St Monica’s and St Michael’s churches. Looking for ideas on how to find some money from the tight budget to donate to Caritas? What about if you’re giving up desserts for Lent the money you would spend on that could go in the box? Or that extra coffee? That $5 we spend on a treat coffee can mean a huge amount to someone living in poverty. You’re invited this Lent to consider how we can help the future generations; how we can make a difference now.

Caritas works across the world helping people to live better lives. Each week they focus on one real story of how your charity changes someone’s life.

Laxmi's story - Nepal

After losing her father at a young age, Laxmi was at risk of falling further into extreme poverty. But with the support of our partner Caritas Nepal, Laxmi joined a child's club, became a leader in her school and is now a mentor to other girls in her village.

Check out the Caritas, Project Compassion website to learn more about Laxmi and the vital work being done by Caritas.

Lent – a time for abstinence and fasting

Lent is a time to ‘give up’ things that prevent us from being the people God wants us to be. It is a time to try or restart practices that bring us closer to God. It is a time for reflecting on ourselves and trying to be better people; to be Easter people, ready for the resurrection of Jesus. Traditional abstinence and fasting laws are only applicable to those over 16 so are not relevant to our children but what can we do to invite them on their own Lenten journey? We can invite them to consider how to improve their connections with their family and God – perhaps spend a night a week playing a game together rather than sitting and watching the TV? Or begin to pray together at night as a family. Maybe encourage them to begin to write a prayer journal or even just spend 5 minutes an afternoon in Christian Meditation? Whatever you choose, I pray that you and your family find renewal and greater connection to God in this season of Lent.